Like many of his teammates, Choo wasn't having his finest season in 2014, hitting .242 with 13 home runs, 40 RBI, 58 runs scored and just three stolen bases. While Choo was far from the only reason the Rangers came into Monday with a 50-79 record and a place in the AL West basement, the free-agent addition from this winter—who signed a seven-year, $130 million deal—hasn't lived up to expectations, either.

Far from it, but he's not alone. This Rangers season has essentially been one disappointment after another.

Prince Fielder was lost for the season in May. Yu Darvish is battling elbow inflammation, though he was having an excellent season before that flared up. The pitching other than Darvish has been dreadful. Alex Rios has watched his power disappear (he's hitting .283 with just four homers and 52 RBI). Elvis Andrus has struggled, hitting .269 with two homers, 32 RBI, 23 stolen bases and 63 runs scored.

For Rangers fans, the hope will be that this year is a wash and that once the team gets healthy and makes a few tweaks next year, it will once again be a playoff contender. In the case of Choo, the hope will likely be that it was the bone spur that limited his production this year and that a healthy player will begin living up to the massive contract he signed.

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Choo's injury will give the Rangers a chance to take another long look at Michael Choice, an exciting prospect at one time who was demoted to the minors in July after hitting .177 with eight home runs and 28 RBI. And more than a few baseball insiders think Choice is trending downward, according to Ben Lindbergh of Grantland:

'There’s still a chance to be a solid everyday guy, because the tools are still there,' one scout said. 'It’s fantastic bat speed and raw power, but there’s a little more doubt for me. It doesn’t appear that he’s handled failure very well, as the approach has sort of deteriorated and he’s fallen into some bad habits with his swing. I wouldn’t give up on him yet, but the arrow is most definitely down. He looks like he needs the offseason and a reset button.'

Another evaluator was more blunt: 'He is almost 25, has been poor in the PCL, hasn’t done a thing in the big leagues,' he said. 'Can’t hit, can’t field. Is he anything more than a platoon up and down guy going forward?'

This is his chance to prove that he is. In lieu of the latest disappointing news for the Rangers with Choo done for the season, the club could certainly use any good news Choice is able to provide.